Improvement in gates



2 Sheets--Sheet1. J. F. BARROW.

, Improvement in Gates.

No. 131,417. Patented Sep.17,1872.

INVEINTO 'R M i fl w: Jm MM? E 1 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

J. F. BARROW. Improvement in Ga NO- 131,417. Patented Sep.17,1m7

INVELNTOR= WITNESSES?- UNITED PATENT QFFICE.

JACOB F. BARROW, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 131,417, dated September 17, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB F. BARROW, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that. the same is a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of gates known as approach gates, or such as are opened and closed by the action of the wheel of the vehicle, for the passing through of which the gate is to be opened; and consists in means whereby the gate is first swung forward by the operation of the wheel of the approaching vehicle, and then backward by the same vehicle as it recedes from the gate. My invention also relates to means whereby the gate is as well adapted to be opened and "closed by hand.

In the accompanyingdrawin g forming a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts of the invention in all the figures, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the gate. Fig. 2 is a side view of the gate-latches. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the gate looking toward the suspended end thereof. Fig. 5 is a top view of the gate-step. Fig. 6 is a side view of the gate-step with part of the gate attached.

A is the gate. B is the post to which the gate is hung. The upper point of suspension is at and within the brace 1), within which the pin or gudgeon b is centered, and capable only of an ordinary vertical rotary movement within it. The lower point of suspension is at and within the lower projecting plate or step 0, which in itself is a principal feature of my invention. To the vertical frame-piece A of the gate a flat iron bar, a, is secured, which projects nearly to the upper surface of the plate 0. At this point the bar a is bent at a right angle, as shown at a. The pin or gudgeon b, projecting from the frame-piece A, passes through a shackle or guiding-iron, d, the office of which is hereinafter described, and thence through the plate 0. The shackle d is provided with a slot, d, into which is inserted a pin, b, extendin-g'from the plate 0. The opening in the plate 0 through which the pin b passes is a triangularly-shaped slot, 0, the uses of which are hereinafter more fully explained.

To simplify the further description of those parts of my invention heretofore alluded to, and those parts not as yet mentioned, I will proceed to describe them as in the relations they bear to the operation of opening and closing the gate. Supposing the gate to be closed and the vehicle to be approaching from a direction to the right of Fig. 4.: The crank E is erect, as also the crank E at the other side of the gate. The frame-piece A stands vertically with reference to, and parallel with, the sides of the post B, as viewed from the jambpost B opposite, but out of line with the face of the post B as viewed from the cranks. This is owing to the placing of the upper pin or gudgeon b, which projects further from the which gives a tendency to depression to the a gate at its latch end. The pin 1) is situated at and passes through the apex of the triangular slot 0 in the plate 0, and, as well as the shackle d and bar a, occupies the position shown specially in Figs. 5 and 6. The wheel of the vehicle passing over the crank E forces it down, moving the sheave E around in the direction indicated by the arrow, tightening the lower chain 6 attached at e to the sheave, and drawing upon the rod F. This rod connects with a link, Gr, secured to the pin b, and by the movement to which the rod is subjected, the direction of which is indicated by the arrow, the pin 1) is drawn from its position at the apex of the slot 0 to that point in the same marked a. The shackle or guidingiron (1 follows the course of the pin 1), moving upon the pin 11' inserted within the slot. Those parts of the slot marked 0 c being parallel with the draft-chains, allow the gudgeon b a freedom of movement within the slot which it would not possess were the slot simply triangular. A combination of forces is produced upon the pin or gudgeon b by the union of the parts 0 c of the slot, the shackle d and the pin b lessening the friction and wear of the parts. The pin 12' being situated out of the line of direction of the draft-chains, operates as a pivot upon which the shackle d makes a part of a revolution, the point of vibration in the shackle being the inner extremity of its slot, which is so adapted in length as to be brought into contact with the pin 12', preventing the gudgeon b from bearing against the inner sides of the triangular slot and the projection p thereon. The gate is thus thrown out of a vertical position with reference to the post B, as viewed from the opposite post B, and the center of gravity of the gate shifted proportionately with the distance from which the gate is moved from a plumb position. A tendency is thus given to the gate to fall forward from the vehicle to a position parallel with the roadway, when it is checked by suitable posts placed at the side thereof. After the wheel of the vehicle has passed over the crank E, which reassumes its erect position by the action of the counter-weight E affixed to the sheave, the wheel in turn strikes the crank E, which is depressed as was the other. By this action, and by the same means as have been described, excepting that the upper chain c is now brought into requisition, the pin or gudgeon b is pulled from 0 to the apex of the triangular slot, in which position the gudgeon b, as has been before stated, and as is herein shown, is nearer to the post B than the upper pin or gudgeon b, by which arrangement of parts the gate is so hung as to have a tendency to close. To prevent a continued oscillatory motion of the cranks after the wheels have passed over them, or to prevent either crank from assuming an angle after the front wheel of the vehicle has passed over it, not such as the hind wheel would readily overcome without injury to the several connecting parts, I place below each sheave or counter weight a spring or friction-plate, s, which, from experiment, I find effects the result desired. The same opening and closing of the gate are effected if the vehicle approaches from a direction opposite to that herein supposed. The movement of the gate, whether in opening or closing, is always from the vehicle. In case the vehicle approaches from a direction opposite to that herein supposed, the gudgeon I) would be brought to that point in the slot a marked 0, instead of that c, as described. The lower chains 6 are always used in the opening of the gate, and the upper ones 0 in closing it. The pin or gudgeon b occupies the apex of the triangular slot 0 during the closing movement of the gate if the vehicle approaches from either direction. The shackle dis specially designed, although it has another function, as previously described, to hold the gudgeon b centrally Within the apex of the slot 0 when the gate is to be opened or closed by hand. When the gate stands closed the shackle d is supported by the part a of the bar a, so that the shackle will not fall or rest between projections 10 upon the plate 0; but when the gate has been partially opened by hand the part a is swung off from contact with the shackle, allowing it' to drop between the projections 19, by means of which it and the gate are firmly held. The

latch consists of two weighted catches, h, pivoted to the jamb-post B at b, and a hasp, 1:, attached to the gate. A movement either way of the gate brings the hasp between the two catches. In the opening movement the gate is necessarily raised and the hasp is lifted over the catches.

I make no claim to the invention of the cranks E E, nor their sheaves and counterweights, in themselves; neither to their use with the respective chains and rods leading to the gate; neither to any part of the latch, as set forth; but

What I do claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- l. The combination of the shackle d, bar a a, pin 12', and gudgeon b with the slotted plate 0 having the projection 2, substantially as and for the purposes herein named.

2. In the plate 0, those parts of the slot marked 0 c, in combination with the gudgeon b and shackle 01, substantially as herein described.

3. The spring or friction plates 8, in combination with the sheaves, counter-weights, and cranks, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JACOB F. BARROW. Witnesses:

Gno. H. HOWARD, G. A. SCHWARZMAN. 

